Scleroderma

Internal organ damage is far more common in dcSSc than in CREST. Most of those with dcSSc who will go on to develop internal organ problems do so in the first three years of the disease. For example, in one study of dcSSc sufferers who developed kidney disease, 75% did so within three years of diagnosis and only 5% in the six years afterward. Mortality rates correlate directly with the location and extent of organ damage. The three-year survival rates for dcSSc break down as follows: 25% for those with severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract; 50% for those with lung damage; 55% for those with kidney damage; and 60% for those with heart damage.

The good news for those with SSc and kidney problems is that Scleroderma renal crisis, a serious kidney condition, is now very treatable with a class of drugs known as ACE inhibitors.(32)

It is inevitable that most SSc sufferers will have gastrointestinal problems at some point. Virtually all will develop reflux disease...

When dcSSc affects the lungs, it does so in three ways, by causing what is known as interstitial lung disease (ILD) with fibrosis (22%), pulmonary hypertension (19%), or both.(33)(34) Pulmonary hypertension is a blood vessel disorder in the lung that produces shortness of breath, chest pain, dizzy spells and fainting.

It is inevitable that most SSc sufferers will have gastrointestinal problems at some point. Virtually all will develop reflux disease, which causes stomach acid to regurgitate up into the throat. 8% of those with dcSSc will go on to develop more severe pseudo-obstruction and malabsorption conditions of the large or small intestines. These can progress to the point where the victims can no longer eat. Myocardial fibrosis, or the development of excess fibrous tissue around the heart, occurs in 15% of dcSSc patients.(35)(36)

Because people with CREST have fewer and less severe internal organ problems than those with dcSSc, they have a better overall outcome. CREST often progresses slowly and with subtle skin changes that are preceded for years by Raynaud's. Renal crisis and serious lung disease are virtually unheard of in CREST. Esophageal reflux disease is common in CREST but severe gastrointestinal problems such as malabsorption are not. Long-standing Raynaud's, telangectasias and calcinosis are classic hallmarks of the disease. Figures 3 and 5 demonstrate the facial telangectasias characteristic of CREST.

Figure 5.

Sclerodactyly.

The skin over the hands and forearms is very tight and thickened.

Finally, not surprisingly, depression is common in people with SSc, occurring in about half of all cases.(37)

What Treatments Are There for SSc?

With most connective tissue diseases, the standard medical approach is to use immunosuppressive agents (for example, steroids) to combat abnormal immune responses such as inflammation. This has not been successful in SSc, perhaps because inflammation plays such a minor role in this disease. The exceptions would be the relatively uncommon SSc symptoms of arthritis; pericarditis, or inflammation of the tissues around the heart; and alveolitis, or inflammation of the tooth socket. Steroids, methotrexate and other immunosuppressive drugs can help with these symptoms.(38)(39)(40)

Pulmonary hypertension is extremely difficult to treat. Infusions of the drugs iloprost or epoprostanol can be effective but they are prohibitively expensive and difficult to administer.(41)(42)(43)(44) Calcium channel blocker drugs are somewhat useful, but only in a minority of cases. Test results for the recently approved drug Bosentan®, however, are extremely promising.(45)(46)

Despite much effort and research, there are unfortunately no good treatments for skin thickening. The only reassurance for those with dcSSc is that the worst will be over after about two years.(47)(48)(49)(50)(50)(51)(52)

The best treatment for chronic reflux disease is the use of proton pump inhibitor drugs, which block the body's production of stomach acid. There are currently no good treatments for small intestine malabsorption caused by SSc, other than, if it comes to that, providing nutrition through a feeding tube or IV.

Raynaud's Syndrome is another difficult to treat SSc symptom. Calcium channel blocker drugs help only a little with Raynaud's.(53) Iloprost does seem to help reduce the frequency and severity of Raynaud's attacks.(54)(55)

Conclusions

The current state of our knowledge of Scleroderma (SSc) is this — despite recent progress in the areas of molecular immunology and molecular biology that promises one day to unravel the secrets of this disease, SSc remains incurable. Some types of SSc, however, are worse than others and many of its symptoms are treatable to varying degrees. This includes pulmonary hypertension and scleroderma renal crisis, once one of the most life-threatening aspects of SSc.

What we plan with thoughts and actions for our future so we can enjoy
retirement/older age, right? Life can change drastically when a rare,
incurable disease such as Systemic Scleroderma attacks our bodies without
warning! My life started changing in Fall 07 in my hands, progressing fast
to include weak/painful muscles, swelling, loss of range of motion and
depression until 3/30/09 diagnosed with Systemic Diffuse Scleroderma which
no one has ever heard of until diagnosed and adding insult to injury,
neither have most doctors, leaving patients to fend for themselves on how
to find treatment for symptoms because Scleroderma cannot be treated as
yet. Most Scleroderma patients look normal in appearance but the damage is
extensive on the inside of our bodies, stage 4 kidney disease, hiatal
hernia, pulmonary fibrosis, aneurysm in heart, GI issues, skin changes and
Raynaud’s in hands & feet are just a few of my Scleroderma challenges. I am
one of the more functionable patients and grateful I have doctors who care
and support from Sweetheart, family and friends. Some patients don’t have
either doctors nor support and rely on facebook Scleroderma chat groups for
advice, love and support from people who relate and understand what they
are experiencing. My life has changed dramatically from 5 1/2 yrs ago and I
am grateful for my Scleroderma journey because the more I reach out to
others the more rewarding my life has become. I am a patient advocate
helping to educate and promote public and medical awareness of the
desperate need to recognise Scleroderma as the life threatening disease it
is. Scleroderma was first documented 260 yrs. ago, now we want awareness to
help alleviate the horrible suffering this disease causes physically,
mentally and emotionally. Please help. EMILL:kingsleymary37@gmail.com

Posted Sun, Feb. 8, 2015 at 7:35 pm EST

Kingsley Mary

What we plan with thoughts and actions for our future so we can enjoy
retirement/older age, right? Life can change drastically when a rare,
incurable disease such as Systemic Scleroderma attacks our bodies without
warning! My life started changing in Fall 07 in my hands, progressing fast
to include weak/painful muscles, swelling, loss of range of motion and
depression until 3/30/09 diagnosed with Systemic Diffuse Scleroderma which
no one has ever heard of until diagnosed and adding insult to injury,
neither have most doctors, leaving patients to fend for themselves on how
to find treatment for symptoms because Scleroderma cannot be treated as
yet. Most Scleroderma patients look normal in appearance but the damage is
extensive on the inside of our bodies, stage 4 kidney disease, hiatal
hernia, pulmonary fibrosis, aneurysm in heart, GI issues, skin changes and
Raynaud’s in hands & feet are just a few of my Scleroderma challenges. I am
one of the more functionable patients and grateful I have doctors who care
and support from Sweetheart, family and friends. Some patients don’t have
either doctors nor support and rely on facebook Scleroderma chat groups for
advice, love and support from people who relate and understand what they
are experiencing. My life has changed dramatically from 5 1/2 yrs ago and I
am grateful for my Scleroderma journey because the more I reach out to
others the more rewarding my life has become. I am a patient advocate
helping to educate and promote public and medical awareness of the
desperate need to recognise Scleroderma as the life threatening disease it
is. Scleroderma was first documented 260 yrs. ago, now we want awareness to
help alleviate the horrible suffering this disease causes physically,
mentally and emotionally. Please help. EMILL:kingsleymary37@gmail.com

Posted Sun, Feb. 1, 2015 at 8:10 am EST

Vivienne Mills

i have Scleroderma for twelve Years i got some treatment form my Dr Feil and form the Peter Laugheed Hospital , this is the best Hospital in the world can treated this disorder, now i am felling much better my body is not stiff anymore i am going back to work i am still taking my medication and it working for me thank God if any one would like to get treatment Please call the treatment clinic (403)9562800 you will happy you did

Posted Fri, Sep. 26, 2014 at 6:27 pm EDT

s.p.jain

In case of a Juvenile scleroderma ( Morphea )an Autoimmune disorder how it is that disorder is noticed only one sid of body pl.S.P.Jain

Posted Sun, Jul. 20, 2014 at 1:41 am EDT

Margaret DeLorme

how can we keep blood count up,we have to keep getting blood transftion.

Posted Sun, Dec. 1, 2013 at 10:19 pm EST

Frances P

would black cherry juice help this condition

Posted Sat, Nov. 16, 2013 at 10:32 am EST

EASTER CAGE

MY SISTER HAVE THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO NO CAN ANY ONE HELP HER,THE DOCTORS JUST FOUND OUT WHAT WERE WRONG WITH MY SISTER AND I WOULD LIKE TO NO IS THIER ANY KIND OF HELP FOR HER,OR HOW CAN WE GO BY HELPING HER